Upcoming Events
- March 11th, 7pm All-Church Life Group
- March 18th, 7pm Church Town Hall Meeting
- March 20th, Grocery Distribution
- March 25th, 7pm All-Church Life Group
Church Town Hall
On Thursday, March 18th at 7:00 pm, we will be hosting a CHC Town Hall Zoom meeting. The Safe Place Team will present information about COVID-19, current metrics, potential return to in-person services and next steps. There will also be an opportunity for church members to ask questions and provide input about the church’s upcoming plans. If you have any questions that you would like to submit ahead of time, please send them to info@cityharborchurch.com with the subject line: “Town Hall Questions.” Please take some time to review the COVID-19 information posted on our website here.
Grocery Distribution
Please join us on Saturday, March 20th, to assist with our grocery distribution in the parking lot behind the Waverly YMCA (The Weinberg Y) on 33rd St. We are activating the network of more than a dozen non-profits and churches to ensure that the food gets to people in need. We need volunteers to greet people, direct traffic, carry boxes, and drivers to deliver boxes to homes or nearby assisted living facilities. We ask that volunteers arrive at 9:15 am to help unload the truck. Please bring your own mask, drinking water, snack, and work gloves. The grocery distribution will begin at 10:30 am, and 575 pre-sorted boxes of groceries will be given away. This will be our only distribution in March. Please continue to pray for our efforts in organizing this continued effort.
Pastor’s Weekly
In Mark chapter 14, during the last supper, Jesus explains the new covenant of this Good News of salvation. Jesus prepares His followers for the coming betrayal of Judas. Jesus shows compassion for them. Jesus feels the pain of personal betrayal. Jesus prepared Peter for restoration from his own betrayal of Jesus. Jesus called His disciples to pray. As His followers fall asleep, Jesus is aware of their inability to be with Him every step of the way. Living a human life, Jesus was alone at moments that He didn’t want to be. He endured the pain so that we may know peace with Him in Heaven for eternity. We see prayer throughout the story. Jesus is transparent about the crushing of His own soul and yet He submits to the will of the Father. Jesus is still teaching, during these soul-crushing moments. Jesus teaches them to pray. Jesus makes it clear that this brings spiritual strength. Let’s learn from Jesus.
For more encouragement from Pastor Ben, click here to view his daily devotionals. Click here to subscribe to receive his daily posts via email.
March Member Spotlight
Eryka Wentz has been a part of our church family for about 8 years. She actually found out about CHC while visiting another church. Pastor Ben was a guest preacher the week she visited and she enjoyed his preaching (and his sense of humor) so much that she visited CHC the following week and has attended ever since! When we were still meeting in-person, Eryka served on the church’s Set-Up Team as well as on the Hospitality Team. She is currently a valued member of the Safe Place Team. She uses both her knowledge of epidemiology as well as her experience translating difficult medical text into everyday language to write most of the team’s informational releases about COVID-19. Eryka has a huge heart for animals rivaled only by her love of people. She is a lifelong volunteer, serving people and animals throughout her life in many different ways. Eryka lives with her rightfully-spoiled good dog, Rufus, who often joins Eryka on her outdoor explorations.
Eryka is part of a research study at Johns Hopkins University that studies COVID-19 and COVID-19 symptoms called the Johns Hopkins COVID Long Study. They are interested in learning about people’s experiences with COVID-19, including people who continue to have symptoms (aka “long haulers”). The study plans to enroll 25,000 people from across the United States. With this much data, they hope to learn why some people become “long haulers” and others do not. If you want to learn more about her study, visit them online at www.covid-long.com.
Q: What is your job title and where do you work?
A: I work at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the Department of Epidemiology. I have worked here for almost 13 years now. My specific group focuses on data coordination and data analysis for many large research studies. My job title is Project Director for several research studies, including ones that study COVID-19, HIV, and cancer.
Q: What has it been like for you working in your field during the COVID pandemic?
A: Honestly, I feel so blessed. Working in the field of Epidemiology… this is what we do! We study infectious diseases and how they are spread amongst different populations. A lot of the JHU experts you see and hear about in the news either work in my School, my Department, or are people I have worked with directly. I have been fortunate to participate and join in on conferences and seminars and meetings each week to learn about cutting edge and developing COVID-19 research. I feel God has placed me in this role at this specific place in time to be able to help people without a science background understand the pandemic without the influence of politics or personal opinions.
Q: What do you enjoy most about volunteering?
A: Volunteering has always been a part of who I am. It is definitely one of the gifts I received from the Holy Spirit and the one I’m most grateful for. When I’m volunteering, I feel at home, light and bouncy on my feet, and filled with so much joy! I sat on the Board of Directors at my local Make-A-Wish Foundation when I was only 13! Since then I have volunteered all over the place… from dog rescues to victim/offender mediations in state prisons. The part I enjoy most is being able to show God’s pure love for everyone, regardless of their circumstances. To let them know they are seen and they are loved, just as they are.
Q: Who has been very inspiring to you and why?
A: Honestly, the life of Jesus. When I consider the adversity and trials he faced in life, I can think of no one more inspiring. All the hatred spewed at him. People demanding he do miracles to prove his identity as Messiah. His own disciples denying him and betraying him. Shame. Physical and emotional abuse. Crucifixion. Loss. And he still chose to die for the same people beating him, taunting him, and demanding he be killed. That level of love and trust in God is what inspires me to push on and mature in my walk. I’m inspired by his compassion and kindness and dedication and his ability to be fully present in whatever he was doing. He never rushed through his day. He just trusted and followed God’s lead no matter what.
Q: What is something about you that people may not know?
A: If I could do life all over again job wise, I would have been a car mechanic and used the money I didn’t spend on college to start a dog rescue for senior dogs. Also… I have a huge heart and desire for communal living. Like flowers in my hair, running through fields of barley, and all after milking the cows and shucking the corn!
Q: What is your favorite Bible verse?
A: My favorite Bible verses are 2 Corinthians 4:8-9, “We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.” These verses always help me to keep going, despite life’s ups and downs.
Q: And lastly, what is your favorite restaurant in Baltimore?
A: As a vegetarian who is deathly allergic to seafood, my options are limited! My favorite Baltimore restaurant is One World Cafe in Charles Village.
Good to Know
Worship Spotify Playlist
Heard us play a song during worship that you loved but weren’t able to find later? Abby Vazquez has put together a Spotify playlist of worship songs that we sing frequently at CHC. Click here for the playlist.
CHC Social Media
Be on the lookout for short encouraging messages on the church’s Facebook page, Instagram account, Twitter profile, and YouTube channel. You may find these helpful for your week and easier to share with others.
City Harbor Church is a safe place to find and follow Jesus. Click here for more information about us and what we believe.